Knockdown stereoscope.



H. E. RICHMOND.

KNOGKDOWN STERBOSGOPE.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 3.1907.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. E. RICHMOND.

KNOGKDOWN STEREOSUOPE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3,1907

Patented Janl19, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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HENRY E. RICHMOND, OF WESTWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

KNOCKDOWN STEREOSCOPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

Application filed April 3, 1907. Serial No. 366,075.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. RICHMOND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Vestwood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Stereoscopes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain novel features in the construction of stereoscopes and to certain novel combinations of elements substantially as hereinafter described.

An important object of the present inven tion is to provide a stereoscope, the several parts of which may be readily disconnected, whereby the stereoscope may be easily stored or shipped in knocked down condition. In pursuance of this object, in the most complete sense thereof, the stereoscope in its preferred form embodies as herein shown, means for separably connecting the shaft with the lens-frame, a division piece separable from the other parts of the structure, a handle similarly separable from the other parts of the structure and eye-shields separable from the lens-frames. In referring to the parts as readily separable it is to be understood that by such term is meant a connection of the parts with each other of such nature as to permit the ready disconnection and connection of the parts from and with each other by one who has no special knowledge of mechanics, without the use of any tools. In further pursuance of the object stated, various changes have been made in the construction of parts whereby said object is attained in the most complete and advantageous manner, and further, a knockdown stereoscope is provided which may be economically produced, is light in weight, presents a pleasing appearance, and in which the several parts-are strongly and firmly united when they are assembled and may easily and quickly be assembled by any person without the use of any tools whatever. These several new features of construction form further or ancillary features of the invention and are severally claimed herein.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a stereoscope with eye shlelds which are pivotally mounted to turn independently of each other, upon axes which are horizontal or approximately so, in either direction from a central or normal position whereby they are readily adaptable to individual peculiarities of various users.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a stereoscope with an adjustable division piece that will accurately divide the view so that apparently only one picture will be seen.

These several objects are attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings which exemplify what I at present regard as the most complete and practical embodiment of the several features of the invention, and which construction I prefer for said reason, though I do not wish it to be understood that the invention in its broader aspects is restricted to the details illustrated.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is a side view of the stereoscope. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the lens frame with the eye-shields therein. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a frame element by which several of the parts are separably united. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the relatively movable elements of the division piece. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the other relatively movable member of the division piece. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a modification of the last named member. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the handle. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the shaft. Fig. 10 is a vertical section through the place of connection of an eye-shield with the lens-frame, showing a position of the parts prior to the complete connection, and Fig. 11 is a similar view of the same parts showing the position thereof when properly connected.

The same character of reference designates the same part in the several views.

A designates the lens-frame, B the eye shades or shields, C a fastening member of the frame, D one member of the dividing plate, E another member of the dividing plate, F the handle, G the shaft and H the picture holder adjustable on the shaft. All of these parts, except the shaft and picture holder, are preferably made from sheet material stamped or otherwise suitably formed to shape. They are separably connected with each other and are provided with inter-. engaging parts, whereby they ma be most readily assembled for use and disassembled for storage or transportation by any ordinary person, as already fully stated. The illustrated and preferred construction of each part will now be described in detail.

The lens-frame A is provided as usual, with openings 1, 1, around which flan es 2, 2, are formed to constitute holders tor the lenses 3, 3, which are suitably mounted therein. Said frame is further provided with an aperture 4i: adapted to receive a projection 13 from the element D of the dividing plate. It is also provided with apertures 5, 5, which receive projections 10, 10, from the contiguous end of the frame i-ate G. projections are preferably stamped from the metal of the respective parts named, and are bent to form hooks which are inserted in the respective apertures in the lens-frame. Thus the frame member C and dividing plate D are detachably secured to the lens-fran'ie.

The frame member C 18 provided with an aperture 11 for a purpose hereinafter stated and which aperture has at diametrically opposite places prolongations 12, 12, forming slots which communicate with said aperture. And the member D of the dividing plate is formed or provided wit a downwardly extending tongue 1% having beveled edges 15, and this ton ue is provided with lateral flanges 16 extending in opposite directions therefrom.

The dividing plate when the parts are assembled, rests upon tie frame C, with its tongue let extending through the aperture 11 andthe beveled edges of the tongue engaged in the slots 12, whereby it is securely held against lateral movement. The other member E of the dividing plate is slidably engaged with said member D. The one herein illustrated is formed of sheet of spring metal bent to provide two side members 17, 17 having their free ends formed with laterally-extending flanges 18, 1S, and their other ends connected with each other by a bend 19 adapted to form a spring tending to hold the side members 17 yieldably towards each'other. Prefe ably, the side members 1'? are bent in diverging planes from their free ends a suitable distance rearwardly and thence in converging planes to their unction with the bend 19, and are in contact *ith each other, or approximately so, when the element E is detached from the element D. This form gives it maximum resilience. It will be apparent that the sides of this member will yield to pressure and permit it to be readily forced onto the member D and that its resilience also will hold itproperly in adjusted position upon the member D. The laterally projecting flanges 18 divide the angle of vision, and by reason of the adjustthe. recwn ment of the member E relatively to the lenses, individual peculiarities of the user.

may be met.

in Fig. 7 there 1S shown a shghtly d1fr'erent form of slidable member desl 'nated in the dinerence bein in tne fact that the O a I sides are materially shorter than 1n the other form and do not have the described divergencies.

The handle F- also is preferably formed of sheet metal and depends from and ex- T1. 1.

tends through the aperture 11 in the plate or frame member G, by which latter'it: is supported. As herein illustrated-itis made integral with aseatF for the shaft G; the

.metal from which it is formed being bent to provide two handle portions 20 which diverge slightly toward their upper ends,

to give resilience, thence laterally in appr'oximately horizontal planes to fOrmbasemembers of theseat' F, thence'upward to form sides 22 to engage the lateraledges of said shaft and thence outward to formflanges 23ad oted to rest on the upper surface'of the plate or frame member G contiguous to the aperture 11 therein. The depen ng members 20 forming the handle portion proper are preferably formed with the-apernes for the reception of the fingers of the user, thus enabling the user most conveniently to hold the stereoscope to the eyes. The forward end of tne shaft G extends bclow the plate C and, as already indicated, rests upon the base of the handle memberl and uponthe flanges 16 of the member- D. its forward endis slotted asshownat 29 for L 'on of the tongue 1% of said'mem her. The lens-frame A, plate C, member I); handle F and shaft G may thus be quicklyassenibled or disassembled by anyone, withnit necessitating the useof-tools, and when they are assembled they mutually support and hold each other rigidly in'p'roper position, as will be apparent in assembling the parts, the plate G is secured to the lens-frame by hooking its ooks or ear-s10 into the slots 5. The plate is then placed uponthe plate'C with its ngue l l extending through-the 'aperture and the bcveled'edges ofisaid tongue en aged in the slots 12. The ho'ole or ear 13 then hooked into'the slotd in the lensrame. The handle F is then inserted hrough the aperture 11 from beneath, and shaft (1 is next inserted into the'seat ofthe handle member a-ndpressed homer The picture holder H may be of any suitable construction and needs no further description.

The eye shades B are individual, that is; there is one of the same for each-eye. They removably securedin-place andas hereinbefore indicated, may be severallyturned v ssel position. As illustrated in the present prero'ections 31 extendin verticall' or a proximately so, from the flanges 2 of the lensframe, over which flanges said eye shades extend. In placing the eye shades in position, their sides are compressed, thus elongating them vertically and they are then inserted upon the respective flanges 2 with their depressions 30 registered with the projections 31 of the latter. lVhen released from pressure they assume their normal shape in which they are wider horizontally than said flanges. The spaces thus provided between the sides of the flanges and eye shades afford room for lateral adjustment of the latter and in this adjustment they turn freely in either direction upon the projections 31 as fulcrums, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. In order that the inner end of each of the eye shades may be arranged close to the lens-frame A without interfering with such adjustment, said inner end is beveled divergently forward from its center to its sides. The outer ends of the eye shades are shaped to conform to the face, as shown.

As many changes may be made in the foregoing construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention produced without departing from the scope thereof, I intend that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I desire it also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a knockdown stereoscope, a lensframe, a shaft, and a frame member detachably secured to the lens-frame, and to which the shaft is detachably secured.

2. In a knockdown stereoscope, a lensframe, a shaft, a frame member detachably secured to the lens-frame, and a seat detachably mounted on said frame member and adapted to receive the forward end of the shaft.

3. In a knockdown stereoscope, a lensframe, a shaft, a frame member detachably secured to the lens-frame, and a seat detachably mounted on said frame member and adapted to receive the forward end of the shaft, said seat being provided with a handle.

4. In a knockdown stereoscope, the combination of the shaft and means for supporting the same, comprising a handle havlng a seat in which the forward end of the shaft is removably inserted.

5. In a knockdown stereoscope, the combination of the shaft and means for supporting the same, comprising a handle having a .seat in which the forward end of the shaft is removably inserted, and a frame member to which said handle is detachably secured.

6. A stereoscope comprising a division piece provided with a plurality of relatively movable members.

7. A stereoscope comprising a division piece provided with a plurality of relatively movable members, one of which has yieldable sides adapted to hold it slidably upon the other.

8. A stereoscope comprising a lens-frame and a division piece provided with a plurality of separable members, one of which members is detachably secured to the lens-frame.

9. A stereoscope comprising a lens-frame and a division piece provided with a plurality of separable members, one of which members is detachably secured to the lens-frame, and the other has yieldable sides adapted to hold it upon the first named member.

10. A stereoscope comprising a division piece having a member formed of sheet metal bent to provide sides, a spring connectin the sides with each other at one end of Sill( member, and lateral projections from the other ends of said sides.

11. A stereoscope comprising a division piece having a member formed of sheet metal bent to provide sides, a spring connecting the sides with each other at one end of said member and lateral projections from the other ends of said sides, a lens-frame, and a member extending from the lens-frame and adapted to be inserted between said sides.

12. A knockdown stereoscope, comprising a lens-frame, a division piece, a shaft and means for holding the shaft and bridge piece, comprising a plate apertured for the reception of the lower end of the bridge-piece and a seat for the shaft supported by said plate.

13. A knockdown stereoscope, comprising a lens-frame, a division piece, a shaft and means for holding the shaft and division piece, comprising a plate apertured for the reception of the lower end of the division piece, and a seat for the shaft, supported by said plate, said seat terminating in a handleportion.

1a. A knockdown stereoscope, comprising a 1ensframe, a division piece having a de pending tongue, a shaft having an aperture to receive said tongue, a plate apertured for the reception of said tongue, and a seat for the shaft sup orted by said plate.

15. A knoc down stereoscope, comprising a lens-frame, a division piece detachably secured thereto and provided with a depending tongue having lateral projections, a. shaft adapted to bear upon said projections and having an aperture to receive said tongue, a plate detachably secured to the lens-frame and having an aperture through which. said tongue extends, said aperture having walls which engage the sides of the tongue, and a seat for the shaft arranged in the aperture in.

the plate and extending below the same, and provided with flanges by which it is removably supported from said plate and also provided with a handle.

16. In a stereoseope, a lens-frame and eye shades pivotally mounted thereon and adapted to be turned relatively thereto in either direction from a central normal position.

17. Ina stereoscope, a lens-frame provided with a flange around the lens-opening, and an eye shade of greater diameter in one direction than the flange to provide a space be tween the same, said flange and shade having interengaging projections and recesses by which the latter is pivotally mounted on the former.

18. In a stereoscope, a lens-frame provided with a flange around the lens-opening, and an eye shade of greater diameter in one direction than the flange to provide a space between the same, said flange and shade having interengaging projections and recesses by which the latter is pivotally mounted on the former and said shade formed of metal adapted to be compressed to elongate its axis to free said projections and recesses from their engagement with each other.

19. In a stereoscope, the combination With the shaft, of a handle formed of metal bent to provide a seat for the end of the shaft.

20. In a stereoscope, the combination With the shaft, of a handle formed of metal bent to provide a seat for the end of the shaft, and a frame member to which said handle is detachably secured.

21. In a stereoscope, the combination with the shaft, of a handle. of metal bent to provide a seat for the end of the shaft, a frame member to which said handle is detachably secured, and a lensframe with which said frame member is detachably connected.

22. In a stereoscope, a frame member, a shaft, and a handle formed of material bent to provide a seat for the end of the shaft,-

said handle being detachably secured to the frame member and having finger holes therem.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand at New York in the county of New York and State of New York, this 22nd day of March, 1907.

HENRY E. RICHMOND.

In presence of .J OHN J. RANAGAN, T. Rrcnanos. 

